Sleeve compressing tool



W. A. VINSON SLEEVE COMPRESSING TOOL Flled Sept 9, 1946 Oct. 7, 1952 tain their adjacent ends slightly separated. At the same time, the stop action of the depressed portion I6 permits sliding of the sleeve while in the jawmeans of the invention by pressure applied to the wire-like member, all as will be later described.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the tool of the invention includes a body I8 including a basev mally engaging the hand at the base of the f shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as comprising a springlike tongue 50 extending into the upper end of the chamber 45 and formed on each of the iianges 43 and 44. By way of example, the upper ends of these flanges may be longitudinally slit to provide the tongues 50 which are then bent inwardly of the passage to resiliently engage the end sleeve at the upper end of the series. Various other releasable means may be vemployed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The body I 8 provides a means for retaining the magazine 38 in xed longitudinal position and n for releasing the magazine when it is to be with base section I9 by a pin 52 and providing a thumb thumb. The ngers of the hand are adapted to l encompass the lower section of a handle 25 between projections 26 and 21 thereof.

The upper ends of side sections and 2I provide relatively deep channels 28. Each channel slidably receives a corresponding positioning member 29 and 29' and mounted in a manner to be hereinafter described. These positioning members provide aligned notches or troughs 30 and 38' in portions of the members lying beyond the side sections 2E! and 2 I, as best shown in Fig. 2. Either of the troughs 3l), 30 is adapted to receive and position the ends of the wire-like member I3 or I3' to guide its insertion into the sleeve I2 when positioned at an operating station. This operating station is adjacent the troughs 30, 30.

Traversing the side sections 20 and 2l and suitably secured thereto is a shaft 32 on which the handle hinges. The side section 2I carries an inward-extending projection 33 acting to restrain one end of a vspring 34 looped -around the shaft 32 with its other end extending beneath the handle 25. This spring normally urges the handle 25 to its extended position, shown in Fig. 1, as determined by engagement with abuttingstop members36 bent inward from the side sections 20 and 2| as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. l

The body I8 is adapted to receive a magazine 38 in which is contained a plurality of the sleeves I2 disposed in side-by-side relationship. The body I8 is adapted to receive magazines containing sleeves of different size and provision is made for retaining the selected magazine in the tool and for moving the sleeves, one at a time, to the operating station 3l. It is preferred that the magazine 38 be made of thin sheet metal or other relatively cheap material so that it can be discarded in favor of a new factory-filled magazine, when empty.

In the illustrated embodiment the magazine 38 includes (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5) a base wall 48, two side walls 4I and 42 spaced to slide between the side sections 26 and 2I, and two flanges 43 and 44 extending substantially parallel to the base wall 40. All of these walls are preferably formed by bending sheet material into the shape shown, the walls cooperating in defining a sleevecontaining chamber 45. The ends of the anges 43 and 44 are spaced from each other to dei-lne a passage 46 facing the base section I9 and giving access to the sleeves I2 in the chamber 45.

When the magazine 38 is filled with a series of the sleeves I2, the lowermost end sleeve will be retained in the chamber 45 by a pair of tabs 4'I bent inwardly from the base wall 4D at its lower end (see Figs. 1 and 3, for example). The uppermost end sleeve is releasably retained in the chamber 45 by any suitable releasable means,

tab- 53by which the member 5I can be manually moved. When in the position shown, the lower end of the magazine 3S engages the top of the member 5 I, thus preventing downward movement of the magazine. The member 5I also carrries a clip 54 which isextensible into a horizontallyelongated slot 55 near the bottom of the base wall 40 of the magazine. This prevents forward movement of the magazine when the member 5I is in the position shown. However, the magazine can be released for withdrawal by swinging the member 5I away from the magazine, the clip 54 swlnging outwardly in the passage 46 of the magazine. This releases the: magazine from its previously locked position sothat the magazine can be removed upwardly from the tool. Alternatively, if all of the sleeves have lbeen emptied, the magazine may be allowed to drop downwardly from the tool. New magazines are always inserted from the top of the tool and, when in proper position, are locked in place by swinging the member 5I to extend the clip 54 into the slot 55.

Means is provided for resiliently urging the series of sleeves I2 upwardly in the chamber 45 of the `magazine 38 so that when the uppermost sleeve 1s removed the remaining sleeves move upwardly to dispose the next sleeve in the top position. Various means, associated either with the magazine or with the body I8 or both, may be used within the spirit of the invention. The preferred arrangement is shown in Fig. 1 as includmg a vspring-actuated reel 56 mounted in a housing 51 of the body I8 and around which is wrapped a flexible strap orcord 58 which extends through an opening 59 of the base section I9. The free end of the strap 58 is connected to a. clip 6I) or other means for engaging the lowermost sleeve. In the illustrated embodiment the clip 60 includes a tongue 6I bent to hook beneath the lowermost sleeve and extending into the chamber 45 through the passage 46 ofthe magazine. The clip l6I) also carries a guide means, preferably a pair of members 62, one on each side of the tongue 6I. to slide along the inner wall of the base section I9 to hold the hooked portion of the tongue 6I within the chamber 45. The tongue 6I and the member B2 are somewhaty resilient and diverge from reach other as suggested in Fig. 1. This divergence prevents complete withdrawal of the clip 60 into the hous1ng57, with consequent unwinding of the springactuating the reel 56, the tongue 6I and the members 62 engaging the walls of the passage 59 to prevent this. With this construction y it will be apparent that a completely-lined or partially-filled magazine may be moved downwardly into the body I8. As soon as the lowerthe lowermost and largest pairof notches 92.` To accommodate vsleeves of smaller size the 'thumb screw 85 is unscrewed and the barv80 readjusted until the lingers 94 lie opposite thatrpair of notches 92 forming the correct-sized` sleeve'- receiving space. l

-From the above it will be clear that the carriage 'structure 65 Iisi moved from an advanced position to or through a retracted position and again to the advancedposition torelease the uppermost sleeve and-move it to the operating station 3|. The retracted position will be sufciently displaced from `the advanced position to permit the bifurcated fingers to engage the uppermost end sleeve. Further downward move-v ment of the carriage structure 65 is notdisadvantageous as the fingers!" will merely be dis.- placed outwardly .by engagement withthe. lower walls of the .respective slots 99 to ride along the external surface of the base wall 40 of the maga-l .zine 38. When the carriage structure again .moves fupwardly, under `the action of thespring 86, the fingers will 'slidefupwardly along the lbase wall 40 of the magazine until they come opposite the slots 09v whereupon they will `enter athe slots, grab the uppermost end sleeve,`dis place it from the magazine and carry it upwardly to the operating station while opposite, or within the appropriate sized notches 92. t

Y,It is desirable that the jaw members "66 and S'I ,bey moved toward each other duringsuch advancing movement of the carriage structure 65 to. bring the ,'jawl members into lightly-engaging relationship with opposite sides of the sleeve being carried upward by the fingers 94. To accomplish this and also to provide for the ultimate inward compression of the sleeve when at the `operating station, I provide a suitable cam means constructed as follows. Somewhat below the shaft 32 isa slightly inclined cam surface |00 formed on the operating handle 25 and intersecting a cam lsurface |I of greater inclination to form a pressure member or lobe |02. As the operating handle 25 is squeezed the lobe |02 will, of course, move inwardly. Related cam surfaces are formed on the upper outer end of the bar 80. These cam surfaces include anl auxiliary cam surface |04 of slight inclination, another auxiliary cam surface |05 of greater inclination and a main cam surface |06 of` slight inclination.

The operation of these coacting cam surfaces can best be understood from Fig. 1, remembering that the carriage structure B5 is here shown in' an intermediate position assumed during its movement from a retracted position toy an advanced position. As the carriage structure continues its upward movement, from the position shown in Fig. 1, the auxiliary cam surface |04 comes closer to and may engage the cam surface |00 of the handle member 25 with consequent slight movement of the jaw member 61 toward the jaw member 66. Further upward movement of the carriagestructure 65 will bring the auxiliary cam surface |05 into sliding engagement with the cam surface IOI of the handle member, whereupon further upward movement will `force the jaw member 61 rapidly toward the jaw member 66. This movement tends to close the sleevereceiving space to bring the jaw members closer to the sleeve periphery. Such rapid movement of the jaw members toward each other is terminated when thelobe |02 passes the junction of the cam surfaces |05 and |06. Further upward movement of the carriage structure will cause the main cam surfacel 06 to slide along the cam surface |00 of the operating handle 25 to compress the jaw members lightly against the sleeve. The f pressural engagement between the mainl'cam'surface |06 and the cam surface :|00 will limit the upward movement of the` carriage structure under the action of the spring :86.and will act as a stop .to determine the advanced position of the carriage or the adjustment screw 88 can be set to serve this` stopping function; `.At this advanced position the sleeve, lightly clamped between the jaw members, will be at the operation station. I

lTo deform the sleeve .I2 locally, e. g., to form the depressed portions I4 and I4 andalsoLthe central'depressed portion I6', if not preformed. the notches 92 of at least. one jaw memberr are equipped with deformin'gmrojections. As shown, the jaw member 61 is longitudinally drilled atits mid plane to provide a bore ||0 which intersects the bottom ofeach notch r92:.therein.1nzthis bore is disposed a hardened pin I|| so that'each notch 92 isbounded in part by thearcuate surface of the notch and` by the exposed arcuate surface of the hardened pinv III. When the jaw members are-pressed together, the hardenedxpin III vthus exerts a localized pressure capable of forming the depressed portion I4 or I4. The jaw members can be urged together with considerable pressure by squeezing the handle 25, the nlobe |02 pressurally engaging the main cam surfacel|06 atthistime. f' In the illustrated embodiment,.the hardened pin I'II is centered with respect to the `magazine 38 and the sleeves I2 therein. correspondingly, if the sleeve at the operatingy station 3| is not axially displaced, the first squeeze of the handle 25 can'form the-central depressed portion IG-in an otherwise-straight sleeve.` vIf the sleeves I:2 are loaded inthe-magazine 38 after the central defpressed portion I6 Iis formed, 'this initial squeeze ing-operationisomitted. p

While-the sleeve I2 is at the operating station and held lightly by the jaw members, theendof the wire-likelmember YI3 may be inserted inithe trough 30 of the positioning member y29: and moved axially into the sleeve toengage :the "central depressed portion I6. The wire-like member is rvthen moved additionallyto slide the vsleeve I2 axially along its f sleeve-receiving' space: untilv Vthe forward end of the sleeve engages the. .opposite positioning member 29l which 'will serve asa' stop for the sleeve movement. The hardenedpin-III will now be disposed opposite an end portion. of the wire-like member I3. squeezing 'the handle 251at'this time will deform the sleeve to'produce Vthe depressed portion I4, thus securing'the sleeve to the-wire-like member I3. The pressure on` the handle 25 is then released but the sleeve will remain within the sleeve-receivingA space, lightly Acontacted by the jaw members The end ofthe second wire-like member I3 is then disposed in the trough 30 ofvthe positioning member 29' and moved into thesleeve to engage thecentral'depressed portion I6. thereof. vFurther movement of the'wire-like member k|33' vwill shift the sleeve through its original central position and move the sleeve axiallyuntil itsi'far end engages the positioning member 29 on the 0D- posite side of the tool. At this time the hardened pin III will be opposite'an end portion of the wire-like member 3 and' squeezing of the handle 25 will form the depressed portion Ulf-,thus locking the sleeve to-'this wire-like member. l The handle 25 is now released and the cooking handle 181s depressed untilthelobe |02 clears the main cam -surface |06. At this time thejaw `members lseparate a suicient Vdistance` to "permit the sleeve l2 with its connected wire-like members voperating station for sequential clamping of two additionalWire-likemembers I3 and I3'.

One feature of theinvention'is that it can be set to deform sleeves of various size. When properly set the sleeve will be automatically moved to the correspondinglysized notchi B2.`

Another important feature vof the invention is that the toolcan be actuated a plurality offtimes to perform vsuccessive deformingoperatio'ns on the same sleeve. Y j f e It will be understood that a particularembodiment of theinvention has been illustratedfor purposes of explanation, but it should beapparent that various changes and modificationsy can be made `without departing fromthe'spirit of the invention as dened in the appendedclaims',

I claim as my invention: L

' l. In acompression tool for deforming asleeve into engagement with a member positionable therein, the combination of: a'body and means for storing a series of sleeves in side-by-side position therein; a carriage structure mounted on and reciprocable relative to said body and including a `pair of relatively movable jaw members pro viding opposed notches facing each other to' dene a sleeve-receiving space; `means onsaid car- 9 riage structure for moving the end sleeve of said series into said sleeve-receiving space;` and means for moving said jaw members toward each other to deforrn `.said sleeve While within said sleevereceiving space to engage said'sleeve with a member placed inside said sleeve.

`2. In a compression tool for deforming'a sleeve into. engagement with a member positionable therein, the combination of a body and means forstoring a series of sleevesin side-by-side `position therein; a carriage structure mounted on and reciprocable relative to said body andincluding a pair of relatively movable jaw Ymembers providingopposed notches facing each other to `denne asleeve-receiving space; means on said carriage structure for moving the end sleeve of said series into said sleeve-receiving space; means carried by said tool for moving the remaining sleeves'of said e series until a succeeding sleeve replaces said end sleeve of the series upon movement of suchend sleeveinto said sleeve-receiving space; andmeans for moving saidjaw members toward eachother to: deform said sleeve While within said sleeve: receiving space to engage said sleeve with a mem-V berplacedinside said sleeve.` f Y e i 3. In a compression tool for deforming a sleeve into engagement with a member positionable therein, the combination of:` a bodyandL means for storing a series of sleeves in side-byside posi-'l tion therein, said body providing an operating station beyond the end sleeve of the series; dis` placeable means carried by said tool forretaining said end `sleeve in position; aV movable carriage structure mounted on said body and havingl means vthereon for moving said end sleeve past said displaceable means to said operating station;

means carried by said tool for' advancing the next sleeve of the` series to said displaceable means to form the end sleeve of the series; and 'means on` asi-asse the sleeve at 'the operating-station.

said carriage `strfucmre :for 'inwardly eefojrmm'g 4. In' a compression tool for defrmin'g 'a sleeve into `engagement yvvith ai` memberv 'positionable therein, the combination'of: `a body providingv an operating station; fa carriage structure mountedon and sllidable relative to "said body in a direction toward and away from said operating station,` said carriage` structure including a jaw means; means carried by saidtool for feeding a 'sleeve -to said jaw means when at la position therein,` said body providing an ope- Y ating station beyond the end sleeve of the series; a carriage structuremounted on and slidable relative to said body in a direction toward and away from said operating station, said carriage structureincluding a jaw means; means connected to said carriage structure for moving said carriage structure between `retracted and advanced positions relative to said body,` said jaw means being adjacentsaid end lslfl.-e'if'e 'of said series when said carriage structure is iln retracted `position and adjacentsaid` operating station when in advanced position; means car-- ried by said tool for feeding said endsleeve` of said series to said jaw means when said carriage structure is near its retracted position, said javv means transporting this sleeve to said operating station; and means carried by said tool for actu'- ating said jaw means so as to deform this vsleeve inwardly While atsaid operating statio:nf.

`6. A combination as defined in claim 5, in which said means for feeding said end sleeve to said jaw means includes a finger means pivoted to said `jaw means for engaging said end sleeve.

A combination as defined in claim 5; `in which said series of sleeves includes another end sleeve at the `opposite'end of said series from said first-named endsleeve, and including a spring means carried by said tool and engaging said other end sleeve for resiliently urging all of the sleeves of said series in a direction. `toward said operating station.` A

8. A combination as defined in claim 5, in which said jaw means includes a first jaw member, a second jaw member, and means forihinging said second jaw member relative to said first jaw member to move toward and away from said first jaw member, said jaw members pro--` viding a plurality of opposed sleeve-receiving notchesfacing each other to provide a plurality said second jaw member relative to said rst jaw' member to move toward and away from` said first jaw member, said jaw members providing' a plurality of opposed `sleeve-receiving notches facing each other to provide a plurality of sleeve-receiving spaces disposed diiferentdisymeans pivoted relative to, one ofvsaid jaw members,and means for adjusting the rpoint of pivoting .of said v,finger means relative to said one of,V said jaw members toffeed said end sleeve to ai-selectedfone of,said sleeve-receiving spaces. 10. A combinationy asL defined in claim 5, vin whichsaid means-for actuating said jaw means so as to deform said sleeve inwardly while at said operating stationincludes a handle pivoted to'said body, and apressure member operatively associated with said handle'to engage said jaw meansto compress same against said sleeve.

11.` Agcombination asdened in claim 5,in which said means for actuating said jaw means so as to deform saidlsleeve while at said operating station includes a handle pivoted to said body, a first cam surface carried by said handle, anda second cam vsurface carried by said jaw means to engage said first cam surface ywhen said carriage structure is in said advanced position. 'v y i Y 12.A combinationas defined iny claim 45, in which said means for actuating said jaw means .so as to deform `said sleeve while at said operating station includes a handle pivoted to said body, a first cam surface carried by said handle, and an auxiliary vcam'surface carried by said jaw means and engageable with said first cam surface `during movement of said carriage structure'from its retracted position to its advanced position to engage said jaw means with said end sleeve before said advanced position is reached.

13. In a device for inwardly deforming in sequence a plurality of sleeves removablyretained side-by-side in a magazine, the combination of: a body providing a magazine-receiving space and means for retaining said magazine in said space, said body providing an operating station beyond the end of said magazine; first and second jaw members mounted on and movable relative to said body in unison and providing opposed notches facing each other; means for mounting one of lsaid jaw members to move toward the other; means carried by one of said jaw members for moving a sleeve from said magazine to a position between saidv jaw members; and means carriedby said `device for -moving said one of said jaw members toward the other jaw member to deform said sleeve inwardly.

14. In a device for inwardly deforming in' sequence a plurality of sleeves 'removably retained side-by-side in a magazine, the combination of: a body providing a magazine-receiving space and means for retaining said magazine in said space, said body providing an operating station beyond theend of said magazine; rst and second jaw members providing opposed notches facingeach other to define a sleeve-receiving space; means for mounting said jawy members to move longitudinally of said magazine and toward and away from each other to translate said sleeve-receiving space from a position near said magazine to said. operating station and to decrease and increase the size of said sleeve-receiving space; means for moving a sleeve from said magazine into said sleeve-receiving space when this space is near said magazine; means for moving thisv sleeve While in said sleeve-receiving space to said operating station; and means for moving one of said jaw 'members toward the other while said sleeve is at said operating station to deform said sleeve inwardly.

., 15. In a device for inwardly deforming in se-A quence aplurality of sleeves removably retained side-by-side in a magazine, said magazine including releasable means for retaining said sleeves therein, the combination of a body lproviding a magazine-receiving space and means for retaining said magazine in said space,l said body providing an operating station beyond the end of said magazine; spring means carried by said body and engaging the lowermost Vof said sleeves to resiliently urge said sleeves upwardly and to resiliently urge the uppermost sleeve against said releasable means; a carriage structure slidable longitudinally of said magazine and comprising a jaw means including first andsecond jaw members providing opposed notches facingeach other to define a sleeve-receiving space, said carriage structure being movable from a retracted position at which said sleeve-receiving space is near said magazine to an advanced position at which said sleeve-receiving space is `adjacent said operating station; finger' means carried by said jaw means to engage the upper end sleeve when said carriage structure is in said retracted position and to advance same beyond said releasable means of said magazine and into said sleeve-receiving space during movement toward said advanced position to carryksaid upper end sleeve to said operating stationj and means for moving said jaw members together to deform inwardly said sleeve while at said operating station.

16. In a tool of the character described for deforming an article, the combination of: a body providing an operating station and having means for storing articles to be deformed at a location spaced from said operating station; jaw means movable relative to said body toward and away from said operating station for deforming an article at said operating station, said jaw means comprising a pair of relatively movable jaw members having a plurality of pairs of opposed notches providing a plurality of article-receiving spaces; and selecting means on said jaw means for transporting an article from said storing'means to said operating station and for positioning same in a selected one of said article-receiving spaces.

17. A tool as set forth in claim 16 wherein `said selecting means is adjustable relative to said jaw means to permit positioning of an varticle removed from said storing means by said selecting means in any one of said article-receiving spaces.

18. A tool as set forth in claim 17 wherein said selecting means includes finger means adapted to be aligned with any one of said article-receiving spaces.

19. In a tool of the character vdescribed for deforming an article, the combination of: means for storing an article to be deformed; jaw means movable relative to said storing means toward and away from an operating station for deforming the article at said operating station, said jaw means being provided with a plurality of articlereceiving spaces;v and selecting means adjustably connected to said jaw means and adapted to register with a selected one of said article-re-V ceiving spaces for moving the article from said storing means to said operating station and for positioning same in said selected article-receiving space.

20. A tool as set forth in claim 19 includin means for adjusting said selecting means relative to said jaw means so as to bring said selecting means into registry with various ones o said article-receiving spaces.

21. In a tool ofthe character described for deforming a sleeve onto an article such as a wire inserted into the sleeve, the combination of: a body; jaw means carried by said body and including a pair of relatively movable jaw members adapted to receive the sleeve therebetween, said jaw members being movable inwardly toward each other with the sleeve disposed therebetween to deform the sleeve inwardly onto the article inserted into the sleeve, the sleeve being movable relative to said jaw members along its own axis while disposed between the jaw members and before the jaw members are moved inwardly toward each other to deform the sleeve; means carried by said tool for moving said jaw members inwardly toward each other to deform the sleeve; and means carried by said tool for limiting movement of the sleeve relative to said jaw members along its own axis, including elements engageable with the ends of the sleeve.

22. A tool as defined in claim 21 wherein said elements are mounted on one of said jaw members.

23. A tool according to claim 21 wherein each of said elements is provided with a notch therein to receive the article inserted into the sleeve.

WILLIAM A. VINSON.

14 REFERENCES orrED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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